The Rise to Family Elder

The Farid family, ranking among the top ten noble houses in Lawlandia, had been at the heart of the nation's power even before the era of awakeners. 

To honor the family's contributions in numerous wars in Lawlandia, the late George III had granted them thousands of acres of land. 

The Farids used this to establish their dominion—a cluster of dozens of castles that amounted to a small town.

At the town's entrance, a plaque hung bearing the family motto in the Farid language—Self-Reliance and Self-Empowerment. 

This motto applied to all members of the family, but held a special significance for lower-level awakeners. 

The Farid family did not provide any resources to family members below level 20, nor did they allow them to flaunt the family name for personal gain. 

Only those who reached level 20 had a certain status in the Farid family, enjoying specific rights and responsibilities.

This was why Emily, the current patriarch's younger sister and a crowd control magus who could easily have reached level 20 with the family's resources, remained stagnant. 

This was the root of the conflict between Emily and the Farid family.

Looking at the plaque, Emily sneered and walked through the gates. 

She returned to the castle where she grew up, changed into comfortable clothes, and lay on the sofa for a while. 

Then she took out some treasured coffee beans from the storage cabinet, ground them in the coffee maker, and brewed herself a full cup to savor.

Around three in the afternoon, Emily stood up, left her castle, and headed to the family council hall.

At that moment, the council hall was filled with numerous members. 

Leading them was a woman—Emily's older sister, Fatima.

"The 437th regular working meeting of the Farid family is now open," Fatima announced, surveying the gathered elders.

"Do any of you have anything to say?" she asked calmly.

The many elders exchanged glances, most holding trivial matters not worthy of discussion at a family meeting of this magnitude. 

Just then, a voice came from the doorway.

"I have something to say."

Emily entered the council hall, standing confidently in the center amidst the puzzled looks of the family elders. 

One of them furrowed his brows and spoke:

"Emily, although you are the patriarch's sister and possess the Farid family's noble bloodline, you should be aware of our family motto of 'Self-Reliance and Self-Empowerment.' You do not have the right to be here in the council hall."

The gathered elders didn't say it out loud, but their looks conveyed everything. 

They viewed Emily's actions as a transgression.

"Speaking of Emily," Fatima began in a calm voice, "I forgot to mention something. When I was purchasing a property recently, I used family resources, but I found that Emily too has been using family resources to gather similar information."

"What? There's such a thing?" An elder stood up in anger, slamming his hand on the table. 

"This is a waste of family resources, a disrespect to our family motto!"

"Emily, you must pay for your actions!"

Emily, seemingly unshaken by the situation and having anticipated this, calmly addressed the elder: 

"According to our family rules, any member of the Farid family's patriarchal line who reaches level 20 has the right to inherit an elder's position. Is that correct?"

"Of course, but what are you trying to imply? You, a magus needing a vast amount of experience, reaching level 20 at your age is impossible!"

But as soon as the elder finished speaking, he was shocked to see Emily's level actively displayed on her.

"2...23? You've grown to this extent? How is this possible?"

"Why?"

A triumphant smile spread across Emily's lips.

"Because I found my true friends and partners. They do not disdain my identity as a crowd control magus requiring vast experience. They don't disregard me because of some so-called family motto!"

"They are my real family."

With that, Emily paused, then continued: 

"Now that I've reached level 23 and am a descendant of the patriarchal line, I rightfully should become an elder."

"Is it not permissible to utilize some of the family's resources?"

Emily spoke emotionlessly: 

"I demand that the family council immediately grant me the status of an elder, allowing me to enjoy my rightful privileges."

"But make no mistake, I am not seeking this right to serve this damnable family."

"I need these resources to support my team, my true family."

The many elders of the Farid family fell silent. 

Technically, Emily's ascension to elder status was indisputable. 

She met all the criteria.

However,

Emily's disdain for the family had reached an extreme. 

Was nurturing such a person as an elder a wise decision? 

This was a question every member of the Farid family had to ask themselves.

No one dared to give a final answer, and all eyes turned towards the woman seated in the highest chair. 

Only the head of the Farid family, Emily's own sister Fatima, had the authority to decide on this matter.

Fatima stared at Emily for a long time, and Emily returned her gaze. 

The sisters looked at each other in silence for a prolonged moment. 

Finally, Fatima parted her red lips:

"Emily, as the head of the Farid family, I hereby declare that from today onwards, you are the thirteenth elder of the Farid family, entitled to all the privileges that come with it."

"Congratulations, my sister."

Fatima gently clapped her hands, applauding Emily's rise to the status of a family elder. 

The other elders of the Farid family followed suit, their claps echoing in the hall. 

The member once least regarded by the family had finally become a part of its highest council.

Tears welled up in the corners of Emily's eyes.

...

"It's nice to meet you. Please take care of me. My name is Carly, and from now on, we'll be teammates!"

Henry stared at the lively young girl who had just bowed to him, momentarily speechless.

"Um, little miss, how old are you?"

Carly frowned slightly, shaking her green dress as if she were a sprite from the forest. "Actually, we're the same age. I just look a bit younger."

Carly showed none of the shyness typical of girls her age; she was like a lively deer, full of energy. 

She sniffed Henry and squinted her eyes in satisfaction. 

"You smell really nice. I want to hug you every day."

Henry coughed and said, "Miss Carly, I want to clarify that we are not teammates yet. We're only meeting because the mayor suggested it, to see if you're a good fit for our team."

"Only after passing certain tests can you be considered part of our team."

Henry tried to explain to Carly, then asked, "Can you tell us about your class and skills, and explain their specific uses?"

"My hidden wood-related class is Healing Elf. My skill is [Healing]. Its function is... Wow, you smell so good. Can I explain while hugging you?"

Before Henry could refuse, Carly agilely jumped onto him, wrapping her legs around his neck and her arms around his head. "You smell so good, so good!"

"Just accept me, I promise I'll be obedient. Whatever you ask, I won't resist."

"My [Healing] skill: Rapidly restores HP and energy of all allies within a three-meter radius, can be used three times a day."

"How about it? Isn't it useful? Please accept me."

While Carly was acting coquettishly, Henry was somewhat flustered and glanced unconsciously at Louis, who was sitting on a chair with a silly grin.

"The mayor asked me to tell you, Carly is particularly fond of awakeners with special luck and abilities, so you two should be a perfect match."